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1:00 am in N. Carolina and I'm still knitting............I just started a scarf knitted end-to-end, requiring 298 stitches, so I didn't want to use my usual long-tail CO. I've never done a 'knitted' CO, but tutorial looked like that was the one I should use. Trouble is, in knitting the first row, when I moved each stitch from left needle to right each CO stitch seemed very loose. Now I'm starting the 3rd row, thinking it might look smoother once I really got going, but my base stitches really look kinda "loopy", and I'm usually a rather tight knitter.
Does the knitted CO usually turn out very loose? I'm not real happy with this and even tho' I hate to frog, I do want to like the scarf when I'm finished. The pattern is rather loose & lacy starting on row#4. It is a pattern I got from a LYS in Black Mtn. using Koigu yarn (called X Stitch Pattern) --- not one I found online.
 
Knitted CO was always loose for me, too--and I wasn't happy with that look, so I have switched to a cable cast-on for most of my work, or a ribbed variation if my garment starts with a ribbed edge. My CO edges are MUCH neater now!
 
NC Knitter said:
1:00 am in N. Carolina and I'm still knitting............I just started a scarf knitted end-to-end, requiring 298 stitches, so I didn't want to use my usual long-tail CO. I've never done a 'knitted' CO, but tutorial looked like that was the one I should use. Trouble is, in knitting the first row, when I moved each stitch from left needle to right each CO stitch seemed very loose. Now I'm starting the 3rd row, thinking it might look smoother once I really got going, but my base stitches really look kinda "loopy", and I'm usually a rather tight knitter.
Does the knitted CO usually turn out very loose? I'm not real happy with this and even tho' I hate to frog, I do want to like the scarf when I'm finished. The pattern is rather loose & lacy starting on row#4. It is a pattern I got from a LYS in Black Mtn. using Koigu yarn (called X Stitch Pattern) --- not one I found online.
I used to cast on that way and had to knit into the backs of sts on first row, this was how my Mum taught me many years ago. Hope this helps.
 
NC Knitter said:
1:00 am in N. Carolina and I'm still knitting............I just started a scarf knitted end-to-end, requiring 298 stitches, so I didn't want to use my usual long-tail CO. I've never done a 'knitted' CO, but tutorial looked like that was the one I should use. Trouble is, in knitting the first row, when I moved each stitch from left needle to right each CO stitch seemed very loose. Now I'm starting the 3rd row, thinking it might look smoother once I really got going, but my base stitches really look kinda "loopy", and I'm usually a rather tight knitter.
Does the knitted CO usually turn out very loose? I'm not real happy with this and even tho' I hate to frog, I do want to like the scarf when I'm finished. The pattern is rather loose & lacy starting on row#4. It is a pattern I got from a LYS in Black Mtn. using Koigu yarn (called X Stitch Pattern) --- not one I found online.
If this is at all helpful, when I make scarves, placemats, hats or other items I always start the cast-on with a size or two smaller needles than what I'll use for the body. Doing so makes the edges tighter and cleaner looking. For instance, I'm in the process of knitting a beaded placemat with a mock kilting pattern on size 9 needles. The cast on and subsequent few border rows are in a different stitch and done with size 7 needles. In this way, the cast on and edge isn't floppy and loose.
 
I've tried the cable cast-on, but I'm slower than molasses in winter. If I had to cast-on that many stitches, I might just do the long tail using an second ball of yarn so I wouldn't have to worry about running out.
 
stitchedhen said:
NC Knitter said:
1:00 am in N. Carolina and I'm still knitting............I just started a scarf knitted end-to-end, requiring 298 stitches, so I didn't want to use my usual long-tail CO. I've never done a 'knitted' CO, but tutorial looked like that was the one I should use. Trouble is, in knitting the first row, when I moved each stitch from left needle to right each CO stitch seemed very loose. Now I'm starting the 3rd row, thinking it might look smoother once I really got going, but my base stitches really look kinda "loopy", and I'm usually a rather tight knitter.
Does the knitted CO usually turn out very loose? I'm not real happy with this and even tho' I hate to frog, I do want to like the scarf when I'm finished. The pattern is rather loose & lacy starting on row#4. It is a pattern I got from a LYS in Black Mtn. using Koigu yarn (called X Stitch Pattern) --- not one I found online.
If this is at all helpful, when I make scarves, placemats, hats or other items I always start the cast-on with a size or two smaller needles than what I'll use for the body. Doing so makes the edges tighter and cleaner looking. For instance, I'm in the process of knitting a beaded placemat with a mock kilting pattern on size 9 needles. The cast on and subsequent few border rows are in a different stitch and done with size 7 needles. In this way, the cast on and edge isn't floppy and loose.
YET, for some using a different size needle to cast on can lead to an item that turns into a parralelogram (sp). and grows in size instead of straight edges.

Here is a grid of co - if you can't find one that works for you here - crochet lol

Cast ON Cast OFF
Crochet Cast ON http://newstitchaday.com/crochet-cast-on/

Frilled Cast on http://knitting.about.com/od/castingon/ss/frilled-cast-on.htm

German Twisted Cast On
AKA
Old Norwegian cast on or
Twisted German cast on Great for sox; similar to long tail but more elastic http://knitting.about.com/od/castingon/ss/german_twisted.htm

http://www.knittingonthenet.com/learn/tgcaston.htm

JudyÂ’s Magic Cast On For toe up sox http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html

Knit Bind Off In Pattern

I cord Cast on
what the cast on looks like
http://whimsicalknittingdesigns.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-cord-cast-on.html

viedo
Knit cast on
AKA
Knitted cast on,
Knitting on Easy, stretchy http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/ss/caston.htm

Need you tube here
Cable cast on Firmer than knit cast on:
NO
Stretch not for hats or sweater bottoms http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/ss/cable_cast_on.htm

video Continental http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/cable-cast-on

English http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/cable-cast-on-english

Guernsey Cast ON http://newstitchaday.com/guernsey-cast-on/
VIDEO AND WRITTEN

video
Long Tail Cast on
AKA
Double cast on/
Continental cast on/
Sling shot/
Two strand/
Y cast on Good all purpose cast on http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/ss/long_tail.htm

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on

video
2 ball Long Tail Cast On http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/10/quicktip-improve-long-tail-cast-on-with.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_4976531_advanced-knitting-long-tail-cast.html

Long Tail Cast On Thumb method
video http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/long-tail-cast-on-thumb-method

http://newstitchaday.com/how-to-knit-the-long-tail-thumb-cast-on/

Provisional Cast On way to add stitches that you'll want to knit from again http://knitting.about.com/od/castingon/ss/provisional-cast-on.htm

video http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/invisible-provisional-cast-on

Provisional Crochet Cast On
provisional crochet cast on

Single Cast On
AKA
Backward loop http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on

Thanks for all the great links Laurie! Here's a new favorite of mine--Tillybuddy's very stretchy rib cast on:



Tubular Cast On Used for double knitting

Really stretchy edges http://slowknits.com/2006/07/tubular_caston_without_the_was_1.html

video http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2008/11/19/learn-a-new-cast-on-tubular-cast-on-video.aspx

Wrap Cast On
AKA
E wrap cast on/
Single cast on/ loop cast on Easiest of all but not easy to keep tension with http://knitting.about.com/od/castingon/ss/wrap_cast_on.htm

video
 
For a project like your scarf, I would use the Guernsey cast on. It is a decorative cast on resulting in little knots. Find it on www.newstitchaday.com. Search for the Guernsey cast on. There is a video there. Good luck.
 
NC Knitter said:
1:00 am in N. Carolina and I'm still knitting............I just started a scarf knitted end-to-end, requiring 298 stitches, so I didn't want to use my usual long-tail CO. I've never done a 'knitted' CO, but tutorial looked like that was the one I should use. Trouble is, in knitting the first row, when I moved each stitch from left needle to right each CO stitch seemed very loose. Now I'm starting the 3rd row, thinking it might look smoother once I really got going, but my base stitches really look kinda "loopy", and I'm usually a rather tight knitter.
Does the knitted CO usually turn out very loose? I'm not real happy with this and even tho' I hate to frog, I do want to like the scarf when I'm finished. The pattern is rather loose & lacy starting on row#4. It is a pattern I got from a LYS in Black Mtn. using Koigu yarn (called X Stitch Pattern) --- not one I found online.
You have to snug up the stitches as you place each new stitch on the left needle. Be careful, though; you can make them too TIGHT.

I use this method regularly.

Virginia
 
I knitted cardigans for three of my daughters and four or five of my grand-daughters. These called for the front band and button band to be knitted separately and stitched on. I thought this was a tedious way, so I picked up the stitches right round the cardigans on a long circular needle. This involved over 300 stitches, but I enjoyed the challenge and it was much neater than if I had stitched the band on. I made another cardigan and because there were even more stiches, I picked up from the centre back neck to the lower centre back, again on a long circular needle, then only had to make two neat joins at the back.
 
I still prefer the long tail cast-on and when doing a large number of sttiches, I put in a marker for every 30 stitches cast on to help count the stitches accurately.

To make sure the tail is long enough, for 298 stitches, I would wrap the yarn around the needle 30 times, then multiply that length times 10, add a short amount and you should have enough yarn to finish the long tail cast-on. I hope I am describing this well. It does work for me.

As far as using the number '30', it just happens to be the one I like. I usually count stitches by 3's : 3, 6, 9, etc.
 
I have the same problem. Have you tried a crochet cast-on? I just learned about it from a video another forum member told me about. It works well. Directions are on About.com under the New Stitch a Day heading.
 
That is such a good idea - I have passed up patterns simply because they call for sewing on the button band.
 
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